Alcohol is a common offering in the ancestral worship of the Vietnamese people. Especially during Tet, every family offers alcohol for the ancestral altar. Our ancestors considered alcohol as the national soul, but only good-quality alcohol is offered as a sign of respect from their descendants. The offerings for our ancestors are always carefully prepared. Our ancestors put all their heart and soul into preparing the offerings, ensuring that they are not just offerings but genuine signs of respect. If the alcohol is not good, if its source is unclear, it will not be offered to the ancestors because it is disrespectful and careless.
Be cautious when buying ceremonial alcohol at specialty shops
These days, many families buy offerings at specialty shops, including a set of small bottles of medicinal wine and tea for each offering. However, the alcohol in these bottles cannot be consumed as it is mixed with alcohol that is not meant for drinking. They are just part of the set, not intended as good-quality alcohol for consumption, which contradicts the original purpose of offering alcohol according to our ancestors.
In these pre-packaged sets, the alcohol cannot be drunk, the tea is not good, and the medicinal contents are of low quality. Therefore, from a spiritual and feng shui point of view, this is not recommended. According to spiritual and feng shui beliefs, offerings should be of high quality, consumable items that reflect reverence for our ancestors. Therefore, buying low-quality sets from specialty shops goes against spiritual beliefs, showing a lack of seriousness by opting for quantity over quality and treating the offerings as mere symbolic items.
Not only do these items serve a symbolic purpose, but they are also of low quality and potentially harmful. This disrupts the spiritual atmosphere. Therefore, from a spiritual and feng shui perspective, it is not recommended to offer ceremonial drinks and tea in this manner. Instead, offer items that are pure, wholesome, of guaranteed quality, and not symbolic like specialty shop products.
Choose Vietnamese liquor, good-quality alcohol for ancestral altars
Therefore, when offering alcohol, do so with proper etiquette and respect. Choose good quality liquor, and if possible, choose traditional Vietnamese liquor to offer to our ancestors. It could be “nep cai hoa vang” wine. If offering Western-style liquor or infused liquor, always include a good-quality “nep cai” wine bottle, following the traditional Vietnamese way to show sincerity and respect for our Vietnamese ancestors. Remember, the alcohol offered should be good and in accordance with Vietnamese customs.
Do not offer alcohol for Buddhist altars
If you have a Buddhist altar at home, do not offer alcohol as part of the offerings. In Buddhist culture, the Buddha taught his followers not to consume alcohol, not to brew alcohol, and not to sell alcohol. According to Buddhism, alcohol is a harmful beverage, and those practicing Buddhism should avoid alcohol. However, many people are unaware of this and still offer alcohol in Buddhist altars, showing a lack of understanding and carelessness in their religious practices.
For other spiritual altars, offer good-quality alcohol and avoid “symbolic” alcohol
Offerings for spiritual altars should also avoid using symbolic items or low-quality products. Therefore, the wine and tea offered should be consumable. Avoid purchasing items that resemble symbolic offerings or specialty shop items. Pay attention to the quality of the wine, medicinal content, and the type of tea used for spiritual altars, as this is crucial to prevent spiritual retribution and punishment. Therefore, the wine offered should be good, drinkable, and the cigarettes should be of high quality, not cheaply rolled ones, and the tea should be of a certain grade.
This information is for reference and contemplation purposes only.
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